The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-30
HENRY ADAMS j LET RER.
FASHIONABLE COMBINATION OF
DINNER AND BALL.
Paintei Bills Of Fare WITH the Name
Of Each Gaest-TOm With
RObus' Appetites.

ESPECIAL coRREsPoSDEEoE OF THE APPEAL. !
NEW YORK January 28.-pne dlu-
ner dance is the sudd 4nly modisl d..
version among th1se who MAKE pleas.
ure the cbisf o. jec in life. A d ~
mstTons in tip-ioO soci ty sgre, TO
simuita leC usly give dinners III their
Separate residences, and after the ba n
quet the different companies meet in
one house for maltzsJ aud quadrlles.
For a wonder, this is not an imported
device, but was invented solely aud
originally by the vita of young Perry
Belmont. The first co ubination Of
dinners and ball had all the social
weight and briEhtness to De naturally
gained from its givers, who were Mrs
August Belmont, Mrs. w. w. Aston,
Mrs. Levi P. Morton, Mrs. Edgerton
Winthrop. Mrs. Frederick Bronson
aud Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt. Pri
ori'y OF Invention has been claimed
for Mrs. Winthrop, because she gave
a ball last winter whereaG some OF hf r
guests had been invited to dinner
earlier in the evening, while some
Others CHANGED to have dined collsc-
lively elsewhere; but sftsr careful,
exhaustive aud judicial examination
of the evidence, am )ustrainsd to
decide that in Mrs. Winthrop's case
there was no definite intention, while
the enter tiinment planned by Mrs.
B slmont was fully worked OUT and
complete affair. / trust that have
settled the question fairly aud per-
manently.
THE ANTE DANCE DINNERS
are careful affairs, it need scarcely be
said, for they rainsvltlbly compared,
contrasted and discussed by the gu est )
when they assemble Immediately aft
erwards. Mrs. William Waldorf AS
tors dinner, on ths last of these occa-
sious, was for only twelve couples.
The long table had no cloth, the beau
t.fully polished mahogany being bare,
except for strip OF finely embroid-
cred velvet through the center, ON
which stood rare flowers in art vases
and wax candles in elaborate candsla-
bra. At each guests plate lay hand
pail ted bill OF fare with his or her
name not on it, but instead a caricA-
ture portrait, by means OF which oca-
tons We're made. These pictures did
not distort the faces, nor aJ all off=n-
sively exaggerate any personal pscu
liarities, but were merely big heads
aud small bodies, and altogether rather
fitteting than otherwise. They were
exqulstely drawn by some clever art
ist, aud one who did not care to be
known as having done such unitarian
work, fer no mark of his identity
could be discovered on the cards. To
every lady was also provided a big
coIssge bouquet, tied with satin rib.
bon to harmonic with her toilet. A
great variety of colors must have been
provided beforehand and selection
hastily put accurately made by some
expert after the arrivals, because no
instance OF bad match could be seen
the table rodnd. The gentlemen goi
BUTTON HOLE BUNcHRs OF FLOWERS.
Mr.. and Mrs. Astor led the way into
the dining room, but separated and
took places opposite each other at tbs
center of the board. Tue rest fount
their assigned chairs in pairs. This
feminine toilets were beautiful ant
costly, but in no instauc3 gorgeous
Simple elega nee seemed to be aimee
at. The bodices we're all low and thu
arms bare to the shoulders. To thi
there was no exception. And no Ions
gloves gave covering to hands ant
forearms. A look across the table re
vesled 90 very little OF fabric and g.
very much flesh that the In ,rspers &c
men in solemn white and black wer,
necessary t) convince the observe
that this was really full dresI affair
The repast began with raw oysters
tiny ones, opened on the deep shells
the outsidss of which had been burn
isbed until they were fit for jewelry
They were not served on plates, bu
in frames Ct twisted and silversd wire
each of these novel contrivances hold
ing ten. The next course was clea
soup in hand painted dishes. Bo leC
salmon with white sauce aud Partisan
potatoes came third. The fisl
was not brought on dishe
fish. Such crockery has gone out o
fashion with Tue extremely swell, an(
now it is not thought retined 10 havt
repre- entations of anything eafabl,
painted on dishes. Even h)wers ar,
not approved for such purposes. Tn
idea is that if, in lifting morsel o
delic ste food a rose should be uncov
cred, the highly educated and scu,,
palate OF the eater might be offended
Chicken croquettes and aspsrsgu
vera fourth; next small broiled birds
then filets OF beef with mushroo n g
then ices with cake; and finally coffee
It will be seen that no great raritl
wa, afforded, but the cookery wa
perfect. The dinner began at 8 o'clocl
and lasted until IL o'clock. Talk oc
cupied much of the time. but ther,
was hearty eating, generally, for it i
considered
sTYLI:H NOW FOR WOMEN TO HAVE Ro